Smoking pipe reamer



March 6, 1962 A. CUCHIARA 3,023,754

SMOKING PIPE REAMER Filed Sept. 24, 1959 INVENTOR. An mon/r way/4M United States Patent D 3,023,754 SMOKING PIPE REAMER Anthony Cuchiara, 113 Columbia St., Schuylkill Haven, Pa. Filed Sept. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 842,093 2 Claims. (Cl. 131-246) This invention relates generally to smoking accessories, and is particularly concerned with a novel construction of reamer or scraper for the bowl of a smoking pipe. The device of this invention is an improvement over the device of my prior US. Patent No. 2,891,559.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a pipe reamer which is more easily assembled in manufacture, and capable of quick and easy disassembly, as for cleaning, repair and replacement of parts, all without the exercise of more than average skill or the use of special tools.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view showing a pipe reamer of the present invention in operative association with a pipe, the latter being shown partially and in phantom for clarity of understanding;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view through the instant reamer, taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the reamer of the instant invention, taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the parts of the instant invention in a disassembled condition; and

@FIGURE 5 is a partial, longitudinal sectional view similar to FIGURE 3, but illustrating an intermediate stage of assembly and disassembly of the instant pipe reamer.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIG. 1 thereof, a smoking pipe is there generally designated 19, which is conventional and includes a bowl 11 and stem 12. Received in the bowl 11 for scraping engagement with the interior thereof is a pipe reamer or scraper of the present invention, generally designated '15.

As best seen in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, the pipe reamer includes an elongate hollow carrier, body or tube 17, which may be of generally cylindrical external configuration, and interiorly hollow. More specifically, the carrier or tube 17 may have a generally rectangular internal cross-sectional configuration, so as to define one pair of facing, spaced internal walls 18, and an additional pair of facing, spaced internal walls 19 disposed at right angles to the walls 18. The walls 18 and 19 are all longitudinally coextensive with the tube 17, the Walls 18 being wider than the walls 19, with each facing pair of walls being in substantial parallelism with each other.

Adjacent to but spaced upward from the lower carrier end 20, there are formed in the carrier a pair of diametrically opposed through openings or slots 21 extending longitudinally of the carrier and longitudinally coextensive with each other. The slots 21 are arranged to open into the interior of the carrier 17 through respective internal walls 19, and are each of a width substantially equal to that of the respective internal wall 19. Thus, the longitudinal side edges of the slots 21 are sub- "ice stantially flush with the internal walls 18. Each slot 21 has an enlarged central portion 22 of arcuate or part circular formation. The central portions 22 are located on opposite sides of the carrier 17 and are joined by a groove 23 in each of the walls 18. The portions 22 and the grooves 23 form a substantially circular passage through the carrier to receive a coil spring 49 in the manner indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The carrier slots or openings 21 are considerably spaced from the upper carrier end; and, located between the upper carrier end and the slots is a cross piece or handle rod 24. The cross piece or rod 24 extends diametrically through and is fixedly secured in the carrier 17, projecting beyond opposite sides thereof, at a location adjacent to and spaced from the upper end of the carrier. The rod 24 may lie in a plane substantially coplanar with that of the slots 21 to minimize space requirements, as will appear presently.

In the assembled relation of FIGURES 2 and 3, a pair of substantially identical, generally fiat plates or blades 26 extend through respective carrier slots 21, with the blades in substantially coplanar relation. The plates or blades 26 are of a thickness relative to the width of the slots 21 and the distance between the facing internal walls 13 so as to be slidable therebetween, both vertically or longitudinally, and horizontally or laterally, and limited against movement out of their coplanar relation.

As best seen in FIGURE 3, each of the plates or blades 26 is generally H-shaped including a central, lateral portion 27 received in its respective slot and having a vertical or longitudinal extent, or length defined between upper and lower edges 23 and 29, respectively, appreciably less than the length of the receiving slot. It will be noted that the upper and lower edges 28 and 29 of the medial, central or lateral portion 27 of each H-shaped plate 26 extend generally normal to the axis of the carrier 17. In addition, each rigid H-shaped plate or blade 26 includes an external longitudinal portion 30 located outward of the lateral portion 27 exteriorly of the carrier body 17, and an inner or interior longitudinal portion 31 located radially inward of the lateral plate portion and interiorly of the carrier body. The exterior longitudinal plate portion 30 of each plate extends in opposite directions longitudinally of the carrier body 17, as at 33 and 34, beyond the upper and lower ends of the adjacent slots 21. Further, the longitudinal external end extensions or fingers 33 and 34 are preferably in substantial alignment to define a substantially straight, external longitudinal edge 35, which has its lower end rounded, as shown. The upper or distal end of the finger or upward external extension 33 terminates in spaced relation below the cross piece 24, while the lower or distal end of the depending finger or extension 34 terminates adjacent to and spaced just slightly above the lower body end 29.

It may also be seen in FIGURE 3 that the inner longitudinal portion 31 of each plate 25 includes a downwardly extending end or finger 36, extending appreciably beyond the adjacent, lower end of the respectively adjacent slot 21, and includes an upper end or finger 38 extending vertically upward slightly beyond the upper end of the adjacent slot.

The generally H-shaped plates or blades 2.6 may be received in the respective slots or openings 21 for vertical or longitudinal movement limited by engagement of the upper and lower lateral portion edges 28 and 29 with the upper and lower ends of the slots, and for limited lateral movement toward and away from each other in substantially coplanar relation with each other, by reason of the spacing between the interior longitudinal plate portion 31, and the spacing between the interior longitudinal plate portion 31 and the exterior longitudinal plate portion 30 of each plate. As shown in FIGURE of the slots.

3 3 the plates 26 are in a normal, operative position with inthe slots- 21, with the upmr edges 28- of the-lateral plate portions 27 proximate to the upper ends of the slots 21, and the lower edges 2 9 of the lateral plate portions spaced appreciably above the lower ends of the' slots The spacing between the lower lateral portion edges 29" and the lower ends of. the slots 21 is sufic'ient such than upon downward longitudinal movement of: the plates to engage the edges 29 with the lower slot ends, the upper extensions or: fingers 38 of theinterior longitudinal plate portion 31 terminatetvertically short of the upper ends This position pennits' outward swinging movement of the fingers 38,,as illustrated in FIGURE 5,

exteriorly through the adjacentslots 21; Gfcourse, from. this condition, a plate 26 may be readily removed and..-

separated from the carrier 17,: by laterallytoutward and upward withdrawal ofthe interior portion finger 36 from its adjacent slot 21. In the normal or operative condition of FIGURE 3,, and even in an extreme condition of longitudinal upward plate movement to engagetheplate edges 28 with the upper ends of the slots,- the depending fingers 36 extend beyond the lower ends of theslots to: prevent withdrawal of}. the plates from the carrier.

Each plate 26 is-provided with formations in the formof a pair of slots or notches 44- extending in vertically or longitudinally ,spaced-relationthrough the inner edgeof the inner longitudinal portion 31' and into-the medialor'lateral portion27. The formations 44 of each plate 26 are located in alignment with each other, and in-alignjment with the openings 22 andgrooves23 of thecarrier 17, when the plates are in their normal,- operative position of FIGURE 3.

Suitable resilient means, such as a coil compression spring 40, is arranged interiorly of the hollow tubular body 17, extending along the passageway defined by the openings 2-2 in grooves 23, having'its opposite'ends connected to respectiveplates 26 and yieldably maintaining the latter in a position of movement away from each other, More specifically, the opposite end convolutions of coil spring 49; are respectively engaged in-the pair of notches 44*of each plate 26, while the spring is-conforrnably received in the passageway 22, 23, to yieldablyand v resiliently maintain the plates 26 in their normal position of longitudinal movement proximate to;the upper ends of the slots 21, andin their laterally or radially outer position with the fingers 36 and 380i the longitudinalinterior plate portion in abutting engagement with the internal carrier Wall-19;

To assemble the elements shown-separated-in FIGURE 4, it is necessary to first-pass the spring 49' into the passageway 22, 2 3, and with one end convolution of the spring engaged in the slots 44 of a plate 26, to:- engage the'lower, longer interior finger 36 of the plate inward and downward through the adjacent slot 21, and con-- tinue inward movement of the plate until the upperinterior finger 38 is received inthe slot. Resilient deflection of the spring 40" easily permits this manipulation, and recepton of the spring in'the passageway'zz, 23 urges the plate longitudinal-ly'upward to its normal positionof FIGURE 3 with'the upper interior finger 3S-extending beyond the upper end of the adjacent slot; The other plate 26 may be assembled in the same manner, and disassembly maybe efiected'by mere reversal of the above described procedure.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the presentinvention provides a pipe reamer which fully accomplishes its intended objects, and iswell adaptedto meet practicalconditionsof manufacture and use. For example, as seen in FIGURE 1, the plates 26' are deflected'laterally inward for conforming scraping engagement withthe-interior of the pipe bowl 11, and it is-only necessary to manually rotate the carrier 17 to effect the desired ream ing action.

Although the present invention has been described in some detailby Way of illustrationandcxample for purposes of clarity of understanding, and for compliance with section 112, Title 35 of the U.S. (lode, it is understood t-hat certain changes and modifications may be made within the spiritof the invention, and that the appended claims should; be construed" as broadly as the prior art will permit; For example, it is understood that the various componentsmay bei'abricated of any desired material, and by way of preference, without limiting intent, it is thought advantageous to form the carrier body 17 of aluminum, and the blades 26 of stainless steela What'is claimed is:

l. Apipereamer comprising a tube, saidtube being formed adjacent to and spaced from onetube en'd'with a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending slots eachhaving an enlarged medial portion in alignment with the other, a pair of generally H shaped plates each havingits lateral portion extending later-ally through a respective slot and having its pair of longitudinal portions respectively interiorly and exteriorly ofsaidttube, said lateralportionwof each plate being of a dimension longitudinally ofits receiving slot less than the'receivingsl'ot length and of a dimension laterally between said longitudinal portions greater than the tube wall thickness for longitudinal and lateral shifting of said plates with said lateral portions in said slots, the interior longitudinal portion of each plate having one relatively shortten'd extending away from said one tube end and the combined longitudinal dimension of said lateral portiorrand therelatively short end of said interior longitudinal. portiontbein'g less than the length of the receiving slot, the interior longitudinal portion of each plate having its other end relatively long extending toward said one tube end and the combined longitudinal'dimension of. said: lateral. portion and the relatively long end of said interior longitudinal portion being greater than the length of the receiving.

tudinal portion, and a coil compression spring: extending laterally through said tube and the enlarged medial portions of said slots to be held thereby against movement longitudinally ofsaid tube, said plates each being configured With a laterally inwardly facing: formation for conformably receiving a respective end of'said spring when said plates are in their limiting position of longitudinal movement away from said one tube end, whereby said spring urges said plates laterally outward to a limiting lateral position with said interior longitudinal portion abutting the interior of said tube and retaining said plates in their limiting position of longitudinal movement away from said one tubeend to prevent inadvertent removal of said plates from said tube.

2. A pipe reamer according to claim 1, saidjtube having a generally rectangular internal cross sectional configuration to define two pairs of facing internal walls, said slots being formed in said tube to open inwardly through one pair of facing internal walls, the other vpair of facing,

internal walls defining guideways constraining said' plates to movement in substantially coplanar relationwith each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

